124 OF SPIRITUAL MINDEDNESS. prehensions of the future state of glory :. for life and immortality were brought to light by the gospel. Wherefore, although no man living can see or find out the infinite riches of eternal glory; yet it is the duty of all to be acquainted with the nature of it in general, so as that they may have fixed thoughts of it, love to it, earnest desires after it, all under its own true and proper notion. 2. So great a part of mankind as the Mahometans, to whom God hath given all the principal and most desirable parts of the world to inhabit and possess, conceive the state of future blessedness to consist in the full satisfaction of their sensual lusts and plea- sures. An evidence this is, that the religion which they profess hath no power or efficacy on their minds to change them from the love of sin, or placing their happiness in fulfilling the desires of the flesh. It doth not at all enlighten their minds to discern a beauty in spiritual things, nor excite their affections to the love of them, nor free the soul to look after blessedness in such things as alone are suited to its rational consti- tution ; for if it did, they would place their happiness' and blessedness in them. Wherefore, it is nothing but an artifice of the god of this world, to blind the eyes of men to their eternal destruction. 3. Some of the philosophers of old attained an ap- prehension, that the blessedness of men in another world doth consist in the soul's full satisfaction in the goodness and beauty of the Divine Nature : and there is a truth in this notion, which contemplative men have adorned with excellent and rational discourses : and sundry who have been and are learned among Christians, have greatly improved this truth by the light of the scripture. From reason they take up
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